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I don’t know where this sudden urgency is coming from, but I can feel it. It’s like a hit of adrenaline, but a thousand times stronger, bubbling inside of me and urging me to move faster, harder.

We fly down the staircase, across the foyer and into the hall. Before I know it, we’re through the dining room and kitchen and stepping through the door into the back of the castle—outside.

Above us, the dark night sky is alive with stars that glitter a thousand times brighter than I’ve seen for as long as I can remember. The air is crisp and cool but not freezing. I get the strangest sense that even the moon is closer than usual.

The sprint across the training yard is nothing like the night Idril disappeared. That night it felt like the world was hellbent on keeping us from reaching her.

Tonight it feels like something’s pushing us, encouraging us to keep going.

We reach the forest in what feels like no time, and it quickly swallows us in densely packed trees. The canopy blocks the natural light, so it’s much darker and takes a moment for my eyes to adjust.

“Stay close,” Soren shouts over his shoulder. “Keep your eyes open and watch your step. The forest is covered in downed trees and branches from last week.”

By unspoken agreement, we follow Soren, letting him take the lead. His instincts give him a clear advantage in navigating, and I’m more than grateful. There’s no way I’d know where I was going otherwise.

I’m so focused on watching out for fallen trees that I nearly jump out of my skin when a black shape splits from the shadows, taking the form of a massive beast and falling into step at my side.

Its head swings to the side and bright golden eyes lock on mine.

Shade.

The panther blinks once, then, like an arrow taking flight, shoots off, passing Soren before disappearing into the trees once more.

“Where the fuck did he come from?” Vae sounds as incredulous as I feel, which makes me feel a little better that I didn't notice the beast until he was right on top of me.

“He’s been with us this whole time,” Soren answers. “Been running loops, pushing ahead to scout before doubling back.”

I swear to the Fates, I don’t think I’ll ever understand that panther. He’s different. Different like Idril’s different.

Which, as I’ve recently discovered, isn’t a bad thing. It’s just not easy to make contingency plans when you don’t know what someone–or something–is capable of.

I glance over at Caelan, who hasn’t said a word since we left HQ. He’s so focused on getting to Idril, I don’t think he’d notice if Shade shifted into Bigfoot right in front of him.

I wish I knew how to fix this rift between us, but I don’t even know where to start. We’ve never fought like this. Not ever. He’s not even really speaking to Vae, and I fucked up way worse than Vae did.

Thirty minutes pass in silence, all of us lost to our own thoughts and fears. Shade returns, and this time he doesn’t leave, running alongside us with intense focus.

We must be getting close when a deep rumbling growl starts up in Shade’s chest. I glance down and start to worry when I notice his ears pinned flat to his head and his teeth bared in a snarl.

Before I can warn anyone, he takes off, shooting ahead of us like a missile and running for all he’s worth.

Caelan curses and picks up his pace to catch up with Soren. The two exchange a few clipped words before they, too, start running faster.

My gut swoops, my chest filling with anxiety. What the hell is going on? Is it Idril? Is she hurt?

That thought makes me dig in my heels and push myself even harder. Vae casts me a worried glance but doesn’t ask questions as he picks up his pace, too.

I was right. We were close. Only a few minutes later, we finally reach the clearing where the cave entrance used to be. My gaze darts everywhere, searching for any sign that tells us if Idril’s here or has been here recently, but I come up empty.

“Where is she?” Caelan growls in a clipped tone, spinning slowly as he scans the clearing again.

“Maybe… maybe she’s not here yet?” Vae suggests with a grimace.

“Nothing’s been cleared. It’s all the same,” Caelan snarls. “How the hell is she going to get out of there if nothing’s been cleared away?”

“Are we sure this is where we’re supposed to be?”

Soren turns from his examination of what used to be the cave entrance and frowns. “Where else would she be?”